Cheney says Bush gradually persuaded him to join Republican ticket

By Mike Ferullo
allpolitics.com writer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican vice presidential hopeful Dick Cheney said Tuesday on CNN's "Larry King Live" that Texas Gov. George W. Bush gradually sold him on the No. 2 spot with repeated overtures during their three-month search for the ideal GOP running mate.

"I could think of a lot of reasons that I didn't want to do it," Cheney told King during his first interview since being chosen as Bush's running mate. "I'd devoted 25 years of my life to public service. But the more I thought about it, the more convinced I was that this was something I wanted to take on."

During a joint appearance in Texas to officially announce Cheney's selection on Tuesday, Bush told cheering supporters that as the two men narrowed a long list of seemingly stellar GOP candidates, "I gradually realized that the person who was best qualified ... was working by my side."

Initially, he didn't want the job

On CNN's "Larry King Live," Cheney said he can handle the stress of being a vice president, noting his service as secretary of defense during the 1991 Persian Gulf War

Cheney -- who's resume includes a stint as President Ford's chief of staff, election to six terms in Congress, and defense secretary during the Persian Gulf War -- said he had agreed to take the helm of Bush's vice presidential selection committee on condition he would not be considered for the job.

But Bush wore him down over time, Cheney said.

"I felt a good deal of warmth towards him ... it was hard to turn him down," said Cheney, insisting that Bush's father -- a longtime friend, colleague and boss -- had no effect on the decision.

"This was strictly the chemistry really between the governor and myself," Cheney said. "He's a very persuasive fellow. That's one of the reasons he's been successful here in Texas. He can talk people into doing what needs to be done."

However, Bush campaign aides have acknowledged that it was former President Bush who suggested that Cheney -- who suffered three minor heart attacks before undergoing bypass surgery in 1988 -- undergo a routine physical examination before being offered the No. 2 spot.

"I haven't had any problems since," said Cheney, casting aside questions whether he was up to his latest political challenge. "I've given up smoking, I exercise regularly, try to watch what I eat, do all the things a prudent man should do."

"After I underwent the bypass surgery, I took on the job of secretary of defense and supervised the (Persian) Gulf War. I can't think of a more stressful situation than that, he added.

Defends voting record

Cheney also defended his conservative voting record in Congress, which has already drawn fire from Democrats. During his six terms as a congressman from Wyoming, Cheney consistently voted in favor of restrictions on abortion rights, but he told CNN that he supports Bush's view on certain exemptions.

"I've consistently supported the pro-life position, but I don't have any problem supporting the pro-life proposition ... that would allow for exemption for rape, incest or the life of the mother," Cheney said.

Democrats also hope to paint Cheney as an extremist on the gun issue. He was one of just 21 members of Congress, in December of 1985, to vote against a ban on armor piercing bullets -- called "cop killer" bullets. Three years later, he was one of only four members of the House voting against a ban on plastic guns that could slip through airport security machines undetected.

"A lot of those votes were cast 15 or 20 years ago," said Cheney. "I think if you look at the kind of package Governor Bush has supported, I think that there are provisions there that make sense," he added, voicing support for the mandatory sale of trigger locks and tougher enforcement of existing gun laws.

During his 11 years in Congress, Cheney also voted as a fiscal conservative, supporting legislation to balance the national budget, while opposing spending in most areas outside of defense.

"In terms of spending issues, I voted I'm sure a great many times against various and some worthy programs that I objected on the ground that we simply couldn't afford them," Cheney told King.

Embracing the younger Bush's campaign theme of "compassionate conservatism," Cheney said that the nation's unprecedented budgets surplus gives Republicans "the opportunity I think to go out and do some things that we might have opposed 20 years ago."